ChatGPT and Cooking With Jackfruit in Las Vegas

How Does the Chatbot Hold Up?

After deciding to reorient myself with an emphasis on both local and cellular memory I have finally been making traction on my cleanse. Some days ago El Super was selling whole jackfruit for the awesomely low price in America of 79 cents per pound. I smelled around the behemoths until I found a smallish 11 pound one that I suspected was at the peak ripeness that I like. I was not disappointed when I cut it open.

This is basically the perfect ripeness that I like. The inside pods are just turning yellow and sweet, while the white strands surrounding them can still be used in green jackfruit savory recipes as a vegetarian substitute. Meanwhile even the seeds are ripe enough to be boiled and eaten too. We have three jackfruit trees in Thailand of two slightly different varieties. I have encountered hundreds of jackfruit varying in ripeness from too green and bitter and latexy to use to black and rotted with trees sprouting out of the seed pods. I’ve cut open dozens of these guys and even wrote a book entitled 21 Things to Do With Jackfruit.

I was curious how easily the OpenAI system ChatGPT could replace me and write my book. First I asked ChatGPT to describe the health benefits of jackfruit. The answer was sufficient:

Jackfruit is a fruit that is native to Southeast Asia but is now grown in many tropical regions around the world. It is a highly nutritious fruit that is low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Some of the health benefits of jackfruit include:

1. Rich in nutrients: Jackfruit is a good source of several essential nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6.

2. High in antioxidants: Jackfruit contains several antioxidants, including carotenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, which may help to protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.

3. Boosts immune system: The vitamin C in jackfruit can help to boost your immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells.

4. Helps with digestion: Jackfruit is high in fiber, which can help to promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation.

5. May help lower blood pressure: The potassium in jackfruit can help to lower blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium.

6. May have anti-inflammatory properties: Some studies have suggested that the compounds in jackfruit may have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be beneficial for people with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

7. May help regulate blood sugar: Jackfruit is a low glycemic index fruit, meaning it may help regulate blood sugar levels, making it a good fruit choice for people with diabetes.

Overall, jackfruit is a nutritious and delicious fruit that can provide several health benefits when included as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

That got me thinking about how when it comes to writing descriptions of the health benefits of certain Thailand native foods ChatGPT could save me a lot of work. When I asked the openAI system to explain how to cut and cook green jackfruit I was much less impressed.

Green jackfruit is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here's a basic recipe for cooking green jackfruit:

Ingredients:

• 1 green jackfruit

• Water

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Cut the jackfruit into smaller pieces and remove the skin and seeds.

2. Rinse the jackfruit pieces under cold water.

3. Place the jackfruit in a large pot and add enough water to cover it.

4. Add a pinch of salt to the pot and bring the water to a boil.

5. Reduce the heat and let the jackfruit simmer for about 30 minutes, or until it is tender.

6. Drain the jackfruit and let it cool.

7. Once the jackfruit is cool, you can use it in a variety of dishes, such as curries, stews, and sandwiches.

This answer sounds simple enough but sounds to me like somebody explaining how to load a certain type of gun with ammo when the person has not actually ever loaded that type of gun before. Yeah just cut the jackfruit up and boil it. No problem. What parts of the jackfruit do you eat and not eat? You cut off the rind and the middle circular section. What parts are considered green jackfruit? Yellow or orange colored fruit is much too ripe and sweet and should be eaten fresh or made into sweet treats. Don’t discard the seeds in the middle of the pods save them for boiling later. What type of knife should you use? ChatGPT did have this caveat:

Note: Some people find that it can be difficult to cut and prepare a whole green jackfruit, as it can be quite large and heavy. If you prefer, you can often find pre-cut or canned green jackfruit in many grocery stores or Asian markets.

Jackfruits are usually at least the size of a medium watermelon, with a very hard, thick rind. Therefore the knife or machete you use should be likewise large and sharp. The less ripe and greener the jackfruit is, the more sticky white latex the inside will have, which will gum up your knife terribly. Use any edible oil on the knife as you are cutting. Mar used to cut jackfruit into round crosswise sections measuring about 1-2 inches in length. Then she would boil the whole thing and heavily salt it. I like cutting off the rind and inedible middle section first as I think they are too bitter. Very green jackfruit also cooks much better if oil is added to the boiling water as it breaks up the latex. Here I just gave the yellow pods to my daughter to eat, separated out the seeds, and boiled he whitish outside strands with the jackfruit seeds.

So now what? I asked ChatGPT for a green jackfruit recipe. The AI produced a stock choice that is similar to a recipe I have in 21 Things to Do With Jackfruit:

Here is a recipe for a tasty and flavorful green jackfruit curry:

Ingredients:

• 1 can of green jackfruit (in brine or water)

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp of ginger, minced

• 1 tsp of cumin

• 1 tsp of coriander

• 1/2 tsp of turmeric

• 1/2 tsp of chili powder

• 1/2 cup of coconut milk

• Salt, to taste

• 1 tbsp of oil

• Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

1. Drain and rinse the green jackfruit in a colander, then use your hands to squeeze out any excess water.

2. Heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat.

3. Add the chopped onion and cook until it is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the minced garlic and ginger, and cook for an additional minute.

5. Add the cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder to the skillet, and stir until the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute.

6. Add the drained jackfruit to the skillet and stir to coat it in the spices.

7. Pour in the coconut milk and bring the mixture to a simmer.

8. Reduce the heat to low and let the curry simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the jackfruit is tender and the sauce has thickened.

9. Taste the curry and add salt, to taste.

10. Serve the curry hot, garnished with fresh cilantro, if desired. It is typically served with rice or bread.

This recipe is a great way to enjoy the unique taste and texture of green jackfruit in a delicious and satisfying meal.

I cooked a variation on that and served it atop lentils and rice. With the green jackfruit being so close to turning yellow the latex broke down easily with boiling and the curry had a melted cheesy texture. It was a very satisfying vegetarian meal.

So can the ChatGPT replace me? I guess it depends on what type of questions I am asking and what type of book I am writing. It halfway seems to be building on things that I had written and researched already. I will use ChatGPT to generate explanations of certain foods, provided I have enough basic knowledge as I do here to know that it isn’t generating utter BS. For another thing the AI can’t experience the joy of cooking or eating the food. There is something vital and human about preparing, cooking, and sharing meals with other people. We need to rediscover that.

I believe that language is the most limited and crude way to communicate, but also the one that I felt God wanted me to wade through. I’m sure I could watch an instructional video on YouTube but I think many of these details should be written down in print. If put on actual paper that isn’t vulnerable to hacking, downed Internet, or electrical outages. I think we may be in for a bumpy ride.

Happy Eating!

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